Complete Gardening
Discover the enchanting world of ground covers that not only add beauty to your landscape but also provide essential habitats and food for birds, bees, and butterflies.
These 15 ground covers are perfect for creating a vibrant, eco-friendly garden that supports local wildlife. From lush foliage to colorful blooms, these plants will transform your garden into a haven for nature’s pollinators.
1. Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme is a fragrant ground cover, loved by bees for its purple blooms. Its aromatic leaves create a tapestry of scent and color. This hardy plant thrives in sunny spots, weaving between stones or filling gaps.
In gardens, Creeping Thyme serves as a natural carpet, inviting pollinators to dine. It’s drought-tolerant and grows well in poor soil. A favorite for rock gardens, paths, and borders.
2. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum offers clusters of tiny white flowers with a honey-like scent, attracting butterflies and bees alike. This annual performs well in borders and containers, providing a charming, airy look.
Sweet Alyssum’s cascading nature adds elegance to any garden. It blooms profusely from spring through fall. Ideal for edging, it softens hardscapes and mingles beautifully with other flowers. A lovely choice for sensory gardens.
3. Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny, with its golden leaves, brightens shaded garden areas. Its trailing habit creates a striking visual effect, attracting bees to its small, cup-shaped flowers.
This ground cover flourishes near ponds and in moist locations, providing a lush, inviting environment. Used in hanging baskets, Creeping Jenny adds a splash of color. Perfect for shady spots where sunlight is scarce, enhancing any garden’s appeal.
4. Bugleweed
Bugleweed, known for its deep blue flower spikes, is a favorite among bees. Its glossy green leaves form a dense mat, perfect for filling shady spots.
This plant thrives in moist, well-drained soils, making it a great choice for woodland gardens. Bugleweed’s rich color and texture enhance garden borders and paths, offering bees a delicious feast. It’s easy to grow and maintain, adding variety to the landscape.
5. Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s Ear is renowned for its silvery, soft leaves that resemble a lamb’s ear. It produces subtle purple flower spikes that bees adore. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in sunny gardens.
Lamb’s Ear provides texture and interest, making it a staple in sensory gardens. Its fuzzy foliage contrasts beautifully with other plants. Ideal for borders and pathways, it invites tactile exploration and visual delight.
6. Wild Strawberry
Wild Strawberry offers small, sweet berries that birds love. Its white flowers attract bees, making it a dual-purpose ground cover. This plant thrives in sunny, well-drained areas.
Wild Strawberry spreads easily, providing lush greenery and edible fruit. It’s perfect for naturalizing gardens and creating wildlife-friendly spaces. Its delightful berries and blossoms add charm, making it a favorite for both gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts.
7. Vinca Minor
Vinca Minor, or Periwinkle, features lilac-blue flowers that enchant both birds and bees. Its glossy leaves form a dense mat, perfect for erosion control.
This evergreen ground cover thrives in shaded or partially sunny areas, adding year-round interest. Vinca Minor suppresses weeds and requires minimal care, making it ideal for low-maintenance gardens. Its vibrant flowers are a cheerful sight in spring.
8. Sedum
Sedum, or Stonecrop, showcases fleshy leaves and pink flower clusters that attract butterflies and bees. It’s drought-tolerant and ideal for rock gardens and dry areas.
This succulent ground cover offers year-round interest with its diverse foliage shapes and colors. Sedum’s adaptability allows it to thrive in various conditions, providing a lush, blooming carpet. Perfect for adding texture and resilience to any garden.
9. Clover
Clover, with its iconic leaves and sweet-smelling flowers, is a haven for bees and butterflies. It fixes nitrogen in the soil, boosting garden health.
This versatile ground cover spreads quickly, filling spaces with vibrant greenery. Clover’s flowers add visual interest and attract pollinators. It’s an excellent choice for eco-friendly lawns and meadows, offering sustainability and beauty in one package.
10. Chamomile
Chamomile offers fragrant, daisy-like flowers adored by bees. Its soothing scent and delicate foliage create a calming garden atmosphere. This herbal ground cover thrives in sunny locations.
Chamomile’s blossoms provide nectar for pollinators, enhancing garden biodiversity. Its low-growing habit and soft texture make it ideal for pathways and borders. Perfect for tea gardens, it adds both visual appeal and herbal benefits.
11. Ajuga
Ajuga, with its purple-blue spikes, attracts bees to shaded areas. Its dark green leaves form a thick mat, suppressing weeds and retaining soil moisture.
This ground cover is perfect for challenging spots, thriving where others struggle. Ajuga’s rich colors and low maintenance needs make it a garden favorite. It adds depth and texture to landscapes, creating a habitat for beneficial insects.
12. Golden Creeping Sedum
Golden Creeping Sedum brightens gardens with its yellow foliage and tiny star-shaped blooms. Ideal for rocky areas, it attracts bees and butterflies.
This resilient ground cover thrives in poor soil and full sun, spreading effortlessly to create a golden carpet. Golden Creeping Sedum requires little maintenance, making it perfect for busy gardeners. Its cheerful presence enlivens any space.
13. Hens and Chicks
Hens and Chicks, known for their adorable rosettes, make excellent ground covers. Their succulents’ leaves attract butterflies, thriving in sunny, rocky areas.
This drought-tolerant plant spreads easily, offering a unique texture. Ideal for rock gardens and containers, Hens and Chicks provide visual interest with minimal care. Their compact growth makes them perfect for filling cracks and crevices. A charming addition to any garden.
14. Snow-in-Summer
Snow-in-Summer dazzles with white blooms and silvery foliage. Bees are drawn to its delicate flowers. This ground cover thrives in sunny, dry areas.
Snow-in-Summer’s cascading habit creates a soft, snowy effect, perfect for slopes and rocky gardens. It’s low-growing and spreads quickly, making it ideal for erosion control. A stunning choice for adding brightness and contrast to landscapes.
15. Oregano
Oregano, a culinary delight, is also a favorite among bees for its tiny purple flowers. It thrives in sunny herb gardens, adding both flavor and beauty.
This aromatic ground cover is perfect for borders and container gardens. Oregano’s dense foliage suppresses weeds and provides nectar for pollinators. It combines practicality with aesthetics, enriching gardens with its fragrant presence and culinary uses.